Attacks by ultra-Orthodox Jews who have spit on and yelled at an 8-year-old American girl walking to school in their Israeli neighborhood has prompted a call by Israeli President Shimon Peres to join a protest today against Jewish religious extremists.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in the city of Beit Shemesh, to the west of Jerusalem, consider a new girls school there an encroachment on their territory. Dozens of men in black hats jeer and physically accost the girls almost daily, the students say, according to the Associated Press.

Naama Margolese, 8, whose family is from Chicago, says she is afraid of walking to her religious Jewish girls school for fear of extremists who have spat on her and called her a whore for dressing "immodestly." She tells the AP: "They were scary. They don't want us to go to the school."

TV images of Naama sobbing from her ordeal has shocked many Israelis, stocking Peres' call for the public to attend today's protest against women's exclusion in the city, Ynetnews.com reports.

"Today the people and not just police officers are being tested," Peres said. "Everyone – the religious, the secular, the traditionalists – must defend the nature of the state of Israel in the face of a small group which compromises national solidarity."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to end attempts to enforce segregation of the sexes, the BBC reports.

"The Israel police are taking, and will take, action to arrest and stop those who spit, harass or raise a hand. This has no place in a free and democratic state," he told his Cabinet, according to the AP.

Ultra-Orthodox makes up about 10% of the Israeli population, but have a high birth rate, the BBC notes.

Just another example of religious intolerance, oh nooooooz religion is good and wholesome religion is fair and tolerant, FUCK RELIGION AND ALL THAT PREACH HATE IN IT'S FUCKING NAME, COCK SUCKERS

They are called extremists and ultra orthodox for a reason. They are all that. They didn't stone her or try to kill her and that is what would happen if she was in a moderate muslim community and she would of also been raped and stoned. Still the Ultra Orthodox are a problem that should be reined in. Eventually they will be. Also they attack other Jews who don't agree with them. And some sects are even against the existence of the state of Israel.

Yes, this is very interesting and I read it once: Zionism and ultra-orthodoxy are some kind of opposites. The Orthodox don't want any state and the Zionists are more like religiously moderate. Doesn't make it easier for the not-involved however...

They are called extremists and ultra orthodox for a reason. They are all that. They didn't stone her or try to kill her and that is what would happen if she was in a moderate muslim community and she would of also been raped and stoned. Still the Ultra Orthodox are a problem that should be reined in. Eventually they will be. Also they attack other Jews who don't agree with them. And some sects are even against the existence of the state of Israel.

Well I am glad you cleared that up for me because I obviously didn't know the difference.